Sock washing device

ABSTRACT

A non-collapsible laundering container for washing and drying paired or delicate items has a annular body made up of two main body parts which are connected by built in snap connectors. The container is designed so that a multiple part mold can be used to manufacture the body parts.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a non-collapsible container which is particularly useful in laundering delicate items and/or paired items such as socks and which is economical to manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A laundering container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,353 issued Dec. 22, 1987 to C. Mark Leapart for a Laundering Bag for Paired Items which has been found to be very useful in laundering paired items such as socks. However, the cost of manufacturing the design shown in the before mentioned patent is higher than desired.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of this invention to provide a non-collapsible laundering container which is economical to fabricate and easy to assemble.

[0004] The laundering container of this invention is designed to be fabricated through use of a multiple section steel mold, such fabrication being greatly facilitated by using a two piece design for the main body of the container. Flexible snap connectors are provided to securely lock the two body sections together without creating any protrusions on the inside or outside of the laundry container which would catch on laundry items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The invention is illustrated in the appended drawings in which:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a side view of a laundry container to which a hanger is releasably attached;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the snap connectors holding upper and lower section of the body of the laundering container in assembly;

[0009]FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

[0010]FIG. 5 is a top view of the laundering container;

[0011]FIG. 6 is section similar to FIG. 2 but showing the top and bottom sections of the body separated;

[0012]FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

[0013]FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the separated components of a snap connector;

[0014]FIG. 9 is a horizontal section of the body of the laundering container illustrating use of a four section mold in manufacturing of the container; and

[0015]FIG. 10 is a horizontal section of the body of the laundering container illustrating use of an eight section mold in manufacture of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The laundering container 11 shown in FIG. 1 includes a plastic net or body 12 having a lower body part 13 and an upper body part 14 with a threaded lid 16 in threaded access opening. The contour of the container 11 is shaped as a surface of revolution in the form of a barrel. The container is preferably made of a plastic which is resilient, relatively strong and which is not adversely affected by soap, softeners, bleach, anti-static agents, or heat encountered in washing and drying operatives.

[0017] The plastic used in manufacture of the container is somewhat flexible and, in order to ensure that the container does not collapse during use, a pair of annular bands 18, 19 are incorporated in the lower part 13 and another pair of bands 21, 22 are formed in the upper part 14. A detachable 23 may be provided to suspend the container for air drying items not normally dried in a dryer.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2-7 the mesh of the body 12 presents openings sufficiently large enough to allow adequate flow of water during washing and adequate flow of air during drying but sufficiently small enough to retain socks or other items being kept separable from the rest of the laundry. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, openings are also provided in the lid 16 so that water and air can easily flow therethrough.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the band 18 on the lower part 13 has a stepped diameter upper end presenting an upwardly extending annular flange 26 and an upward facing shoulder 27 and the band 22 on the upper part 14 has a stepped diameter lower end presenting a downwardly extending flange 28 and a downward facing shoulder 29 in confronting relation to the shoulder 27. When the upper and lower parts 13, 14 are assembled, the flanges 26, 28 are in radially confronting, juxtaposed relation to one another. The flanges 26, 26 are beveled or tapered to reduce radial thickness at their extremities to facilitate assembly in which condition the radially inner and outer annular walls of the upper and lower parts 13, 14 are aligned to provide smooth inner and outer body surfaces on which laundry items will not catch or hang up.

[0020] Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 8, a pair of snap connectors 31 are provided to hold the lower and upper parts 13, 14 of the container 12 in assembly. Each snap connector 31 includes a female component in the form of an opening 33 in the band 18 of the lower part 13 and a male component on the upper part 14 in the form of an annular protrusion or button 34 on a downwardly extending resiliently flexible leg 36. When the upper part 14 is moved axially downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 6, to bring the annual flanges 26, 28 into a juxtaposed, overlapping relationship, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 a beveled camming surface 37 formed on the button 34 engages the radially inward edge 38 of the flange 26 causing the leg 36 to bend to allow the button 34 to slide down a vertically extending groove 39 formed in the band of the lower part 13. The groove 39 is aligned with the annular opening 33 and guides the button 34 to the mating annular opening 33 which it engages in a snap action manner during assembly. The two grooves 39 for the two snap connectors 31 help to properly orient the upper and lower parts 13, 14 during assembly. Once assembled there are no edges of the snap connectors at the inside or outside of the body of the container which would catch on or snag laundry items. The lower and upper parts 13, 14 can be disconnected by first pushing radially inward, until confronting surfaces 41, 42 of the button 34 and the opening 33 do not confront one another and then by raising the upper part 14.

[0021] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, by aligning the surfaces forming the net openings of the upper and lower parts 13, 14 in either four or 8 directions away from the axis 49 of the body 12 of the laundering container, it is possible to use either a four part steel mold or a six part steel mold to fabricate the sides of the top and bottom parts of the barrel shaped container. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A laundering container for paired items comprising: a plastic net having a surface of revolution shape including a first part having an end formed by a generally annular band, a second part having an end formed by a generally annular band, said bands having stepped diameter extremities in overlapping relation to one another, and a releasable resilient latch maintaining said extremities in overlapping relation to one another thereby keeping said first and second parts in an assembled condition.
 2. The laundering container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bands include a plurality of pairs of mating components constituting said latches.
 3. The laundering container as set forth in claim 2 wherein each pair of mating components include a male component and a female component.
 4. The laundering container as set forth in claim 3 wherein said male components are formed on said annular band of said first part and said female components are formed on said annular band of said second part.
 5. The laundering container as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said parts includes an opening access and further comprising a removable lid covering said opening.
 6. The laundering container as set forth in claim 4 wherein said female component is a radially extending round opening and said male component is a button depending from a resilient leg.
 7. The laundering container as set forth in claim 6 wherein, when said mating components are in engagement, the interior and exterior of said bands are free of protrusions on which laundered items could hang up.
 8. The laundering container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said extremities of said bands include juxtaposed tapered flanges. 